He said: “One way of looking at is for a woman when she gets dressed to go out she can put her fake hair in, she’s got her make up to put on, chicken fillets to put in, there’s lots of enhancements a woman can use.

"A man can only really get dressed and do his hair.”

Although the surgery is carried out under general anaesthetic and Lee had never had major surgery before, he was not scared about going under the knife.

He said: “Up until the day of surgery I felt quite confident, I felt really happy and excited about it.

Fat: Doctors suck out the excess fat from Lee's abs (Image: BBC)

“The day of the surgery you have your second thoughts going through your mind but even to the point where I laid there and I was knocked out. I think I was just apprehensive.”

Following the procedure Lee had to wear a corset while his body recovered from the surgery.

He explains: “I wore the corset for first four to six weeks, four weeks permanently, only taking it off to wash. I was living and sleeping in it.

"It was quite uncomfortable to get used to as you can imagine. A bit undignified. Even though it was black it looked like a bay watch suit - it wasn’t very flattering.”

Now seven weeks later Lee’s body is healed, although he is still waiting for the sensation in his chest to come back fully.

And the 31-year-old is thrilled with the way he now looks.

But Lee is under no illusions that he can now put his feet up and eat pizza, adding: “The procedure itself can only enhance what you already have.

Muscles: Lee three weeks ago (Image: Supplied)

"It’s not a miracle, you’ve still got to work hard to maintain it, you’ve still got to have a level of muscle and tone underneath.”

Lee, who runs a joinery business, has felt himself pulled in different directions as he tries to spend time with his two young kids, give his all at work and keep in good shape.

So having the procedure for him was about reducing the amount of time he needed to spend in the gym.

Lee already has a six pack and toned body so many people might find it strange that he felt the need to get cosmetic surgery but Lee was convinced the procedure could give him a better quality of life.

He said: “Maybe people don’t know the blood, sweat and tears, the expense and the diet control that goes into that.

“For me at the moment time’s very limited I’ve got two kids, I’ve got a business to run and time is of the essence so this is one of the main reasons and the main factors.

“This procedure I felt has just given me a little bit more family time, time off the gym, a bit more of a normal life.”

Lee’s gym obsession had a serious effect on his past relationship and led to them splitting up.

“We had two children together but we ended up splitting up due to my commitment to the gym.”

With new partner Melanie, Lee was determined not to let the gym come between them.

Convincing Melanie, 31, that he was right to have the operation took some doing but now Lee has come through the other side she can see just how happy it’s made him.

“She thought I was crazy at the time and she was worried about me having the operation and the aftermath of it,” said Lee. “But she's been very supportive of it and she loves the results.

“She has seen the change in me so I think overall it's been for the good, she's happy.”

And already Lee has reduced his gym time from seven times a week down to two or three times so he has more time at home.

Hunk: Lee on December 17 (Image: Supplied)

That means he can spend more time with seven-year-old Coby-lee and six-year-old Trent.

For Lee, a fitness fanatic from a young age, having an impressive body has been part of his identity for a long time.

He started playing for Leeds Rhinos when he was nine years old.

“I played rugby from a very young age so rugby got me into fitness and taught me about diet about different training programmes. I had an injury when I was 17 on my hand which stopped me playing rugby but it's a lifestyle I've always kept.

“It's something that's been instilled in me for as far as I can remember.”

Having had this procedure Lee could now have perfect abs for life as long as he keeps going to the gym and does not neglect his diet.

Lee is not looking at having any other cosmetic procedures done at the moment but he would not rule it out.

He says he would definitely recommend the abdominal etching but warns people should only do it for the right reasons.